Legislation Introduced to Improve Manufacturing Competitiveness

On February 10, Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Mike Enzi (R-WY) introduced S 2002, The Motor System Market Awareness Act of 2014, which authorizes the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to assess current market conditions for motor system technologies, identify areas of improvement in the marketplace, educate end users on efficiency benefits of new motors, and help encourage the greater use of rare earth and other advanced technologies to achieve efficiencies in motor systems.

“Senators Pryor and Enzi have introduced legislation that shows their commitment to bettering the manufacturing environment and ensuring manufacturing competitiveness in the global market,” said NEMA President and CEO Evan R. Gaddis. “We are grateful for their leadership on this important issue.”

According to DOE, motor systems are responsible for 63 percent of all electricity consumed by U.S. industry. An update of the previous study, issued in 2002, is needed given technological advances in motor systems and changes in industrial end-users. The legislation also calls on DOE to undertake in consultation with industry a targeted public awareness program on end-user energy efficiency opportunities, procurement practices, and research and development needs.

NEMA will continue to work with Sens. Pryor and Enzi to advance the legislation in Congress and with DOE’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, which focuses on industrial energy efficiency.

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The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) represents nearly 350 electrical, medical imaging, and radiation therapy manufacturers at the forefront of electrical safety, reliability, resilience, efficiency, and energy security. Our combined industries account for more than 400,000 American jobs and more than 7,000 facilities across the United States. Domestic production exceeds $117 billion per year.